1999 225 Ficht starting problems

[99stratos]

I have a 1999 Evinrude 225 Ficht with an intermittent starting problem. To cut to the chase, it'll crank away but won't fire...sometimes. On any given day it decides to start, it will usually run fine all day. Then the next time out it just won't start at all. I have a new 1000MCA/875CCA Deka battery and did due diligence on all the connections. I've replaced the starter, and thought that was it, but next time out same problem. It's been happening for about a year. It was sporadic enough at first I could always blame the battery, or maybe I left a graph on, but now it starts about 50-50. I'm at wits end and so is my dealer because when I drive it to him, it either starts fine or whatever we try "seems" to work (aka the starter), until the next time I get to the water. Any ideas?

[NASCAR]

put some new plugs in it.

[kris brantner]

yup, do that and you will think someone put a whole new motor on it.

[Danrude]

The SAC (Start Assist Circuit) may be the problem. It gets its voltage off the "I" terminal of the start solenoid. What you may be experiencing is an intermittent problem with the solenoid. I experienced the problem with my 2000 Ficht 200 this past winter and changed the solenoid because it would not act up when I could get a voltage reading. I haven't had a problem since. The next time it acts up try to check the voltage at the "I" terminal while cranking. It should be 40 volts.

[99stratos]

Thanks All. New plugs every spring are standard, I barely get a year out of them. The injectors are clearly not firing when it's cranking, as soon as you hear the telltale "Ficht click" it's running. Something is definitely not allowing the motor to start. I "heard" about the SAC problems before but I really appreciate useable tech info, that's an easy check and a cheap fix. Frustrating as hell, but it's been a good motor for me through 9 tournament seasons so far.

[bassrippin365]

I have a 99 strat also.I noticed with mine that if i have the kill switch hooked up,sometimes it will just turnover and turnover-not start.as soon as i pull the kill switch cord off the key hole then it fires right up-weird huh.I just figured that the ignition is bad or shorting out.any ideas or any similiar problems such as this one.

[99stratos]

That is wierd, but I know the kill switch on the Ficht works only when the engine is already running. You can start the engine with the kill switch pulled. Since the DFI ignitions are electronic, they decided that if you did get ejected and ripped the kill switch, you or a rescuer could still re-start the boat and drive it. I found out the hard way when I was troubleshooting a weak starting battery...I pulled the kill switch to listen to the motor crank and it fired up in my garage with the switch in my hand.

Good Luck,

[99stratos]

Dan - Thanks a ton, I think that was it. I've been out 4 times since a new solenoid ($26) and no problems since. Interestingly enough, I quizzed my dealer about it and he showed me his service manual for the '99 225 Ficht, and the SAC is NOT in the theory of operation. Also, when you look up the starter solenoid, it says that the "I" terminal of the solenoid is unused, which is obviously not true. The SAC circuit magically appears on the wiring diagrams though.

I'm still knocking on wood but I'm feeling pretty stoked right now.

[Danrude]

Lets hope that is it! I do not like to just swap parts. It would be nice to get a voltage reading on this type of a problem, at least we know that the solenoid is in the SAC. I am not surprised the 99 manual doesn't show anything. there were several changes going on with that year. Glad I could help.